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Justice News

Three men charged in seperate cases with gun charges

BUFFALO, N.Y.– U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that a grand jury has indicted three defendants in separate cases on firearms charges.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney George C. Burgasser, who is handling the cases, Kevin Zimmerman, 23, and his brother, Jeffrey Zimmerman, 29, both of Cheektowaga, N.Y., are charged in separate indictments with being an armed career criminal in possession of a firearm. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison. According to previously filed complaints, the brothers were in possession of stolen firearms after being convicted of violent felonies which they then sold to local gun shops.

In addition, Jesse Reidy, 27, of Delavan, N.Y., is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years.
According to a previously filed complaint, Reidy was on New York State parole for a felony conviction. The defendant fled after cutting off his electronic monitoring bracelet. In August 2012, law enforcement officers captured Reidy who was in possession of a firearms and more than 200 rounds of ammunition.

“These cases demonstrate the commitment of this Office – working side by side with our law enforcement partners - to target for prosecution armed felons,” said U.S. Attorney Hochul. “While the Constitution certainly protects the right of law abiding citizens to keep and bear arms, those convicted of a felony forfeit that right.”

The indictments are the culmination of an investigation on the part of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Resident Agent in Charge Frank Christiano, the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Daniel Derenda, the U.S. Marshal’s Violent Felony Fugitive Task Force, under the direction of Marshal Charles Salina and the New York State Parole Division, under the direction of Commissioner Jeffrey Fischer.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.